Former Honduras president returns home after Trump pardon

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has returned to his home country following a presidential pardon granted by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Hernandez had been serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States after being convicted of drug trafficking charges.

Upon his arrival via private jet near the capital, Tegucigalpa, Hernandez addressed supporters in Comayagua. He expressed gratitude to Trump, who reportedly described Hernandez's conviction as a "great injustice" and claimed the judicial system was used as a political weapon against him. In 2024, a U.S. court found Hernandez guilty of aiding in the smuggling of hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S. in collaboration with drug cartel leaders.

However, in a surprising move shortly before the Honduran presidential election last year, Trump issued a pardon to Hernandez. Despite the pardon regarding U.S. charges, Hernandez is scheduled to appear in a Honduran court on August 3 to face accusations of fraud and money laundering. He has vehemently denied all these charges, asserting that he remains a victim of political persecution.

Prosecutors allege that Hernandez misused approximately $2 million in public funds to finance his first presidential campaign. A judge had previously suspended an arrest warrant for Hernandez after he agreed to voluntarily appear in court. The former president maintains his innocence on all counts, framing his legal troubles as politically motivated.

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Trump described the conviction against me as 'a great injustice,' and claimed the judicial system was used as a political weapon against me.